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Lance

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Everything posted by Lance

  1. I wanted to add: most interest in these type of mounts would be from militaria collectors, any restoration would most likely decrease it's value instead of enhancing it, best to preserve it as is. Regards, Lance
  2. maybe an Oni? http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/MAEDATE2.htm Regards, Lance
  3. Wow, amazing!!......I'll take a shot (and hopefully not embarrass myself too much in the process, added some links and pics below) Most Goto ShiShi I've seen seem to be in more "formalized" or stiff pose, with tight curls in the tail (3 balls) and mane, my impression is one of the key points to appreciating their work is the the precision involved, not just in the nanako but the figures themselves too. http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/9965 The ShiShi on your kojiri looks to be in a more wil, natural pose, more character in the facial details and the tail and mane are more free-flowing, similar to Yokoya or High level Mito school, both who were good with nanako as well? http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/18661 http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/9973 Thanks for posting these, really amazing work. (please be kind when correcting me!) Regards, Lance
  4. The kashira on your sword looks to be a Baku, eater of (bad) dreams. http://hyakumonogatari.com/2012/10/20/b ... eam-eater/ http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/baku.html Regards, Lance
  5. Lance

    In your dreams!

    For something on an emotional level I'd choose a sword from the Koto Bizen Yosazaemon Sukesada line of smiths. Aside from being good swords and appreciating their work, the first sword I ever had (and still do) was a simple Sukesada wakizashi given to me by my father; decent quality with only a 2 character mei but after using John Yumoto's handbook (another gift) to read the signature it was a revelation of sorts to be holding a sword hundreds of years old, and the Nihonto bug was firmly bit. A true dream sword, likely unobtainable for me would be something like Kamakura-Nambokucho Yamato school tachi, beautiful sedate workmanship. From a historical perspective the idea of warrior monks has always been interesting to me even though they were sometimes portrayed as mountain bandits (or maybe that is the appeal ) Regards, Lance
  6. I was thinking the horimono resembled those seen on Yasutsugu as well. I don't know if it was just the first generation, or if later generations did it too: making copies of swords by famous smiths to be given as gifts by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Included an excerpt from a very good article about the Yautsugu school at the link below from the same site Mariuszk posted, I believe the owner of the website is a member here too. http://yakiba.com/article_yasutsugu.htm Shodai Yasutsugu (Keicho 1596) was a highly skilled sword smith. He was skilled not only at forging swords in his own style, but also a master of replicating (utushi-mono) old Koto blades and the art of re-tempering (saiha). These utushi-mono were commissioned by the Tokagawa Shogunates such as Hideyasu, Ieyasu, as gifts to distinguished Daimyo and officials. He was known to have made excellent copies of Masamune, Sadamune, Nobukuni and others. Many of the old Daimyo mumei heirlooms found today are thought to be utushi-mono made by Shodai Yasutsugu. Once the battle of Osaka (1614 - 1615) had ended, Shodai Yasutsugu was summoned to Osaka. Here he was commissioned for the restoration (saiha) or replication (utushi-mono) of a great many masterworks which had been destroyed when Osaka Castle was burned. Also added an image of a sword by Yasutsugu from Nihonto-Koza Shinto volume below. (fairly well known blade, published in many books. I also remember seeing it at the Metropolitan Art Museum in NY a few years back when the Arts of the Samurai exhibit was held.) If the mei isn't good, maybe an odd utushimono of sorts by one of the smiths of this school is something to consider? Regards, Lance
  7. Maybe it's directions for which end to insert somewhere else? (my mother was a nurse and she used to tell me, when she first started most early thermometers weren't used orally) Regards Lance
  8. I like the Christie's example more: the carving itself seems more assured, and has a greater similarity to the ink paintings that this type of work was supposed to be based on, using a less is more approach. Also the two crows seem to be in more pleasing/natural poses, one looking up the other down, sharing space instead of just two separate birds on a tree branch. Also, with the bulk of their silhouettes in front of the moon it creates a better sense of depth overall (another plus, although I'm unsure if it was by design or wear the irregularities on the moon look to have been made to mimic craters) That being said the two Bonhams examples look closer to each other, but that might be due to the possibility of same auction house, same photographer? I would be happy with either though. Regards, Lance
  9. No guarantees but after cleaning the tape residue off as instructed above, and oiling the blade over time you might be pleasantly surprised at how much the "tarnish" goes away. I've had swords and old knives that had a fairly dull finish become more "clear" after a short period of being treated with a light application of oil, I'm not sure if it was just slowly removing old oil/cosmoline residue, or removing oxidation as well but there was an improvement. Obviously It will never be anywhere remotely near equivalent to a proper restoration, but it will help to preserve it and allow you to become more familiar with handling it. That way if you do have it restored. you'll have less worries in marring a new polish. Regards, Lance
  10. Lance

    Local tanto

    Looks like it's for sale on ebay too? http://m.ebay.com/itm/261314824994 Regards, Lance
  11. Lance

    Local tanto

    Looks like Masamune. Regards, Lance
  12. Politics (probably impossible, I know) and talent aside, is there any consideration given to who might be seen as a better ambassador/representative to their respective craft? Regards, Lance
  13. Thanks Jacques, I'll have to put it on my book list and check it out. Regards, Lance
  14. Hello Jacques, Any chance of a mini review of the book? Does it deal with actual swordfighting techniques or is it more philosophical like Hagakure? Below is a link for "The Sword and the Mind by Yagyu Muenori, same book or in any way related? http://www.amazon.com/The-Sword-Mind-Ya ... 4+Kadensho Regards, Lance
  15. Hello Jacques, Athough I don't consider myself super knowledgeable on the history of martial arts in Japan, I think the examples below give a decent examaple how 1 or 2 schools (sometimes even one man) could have enough influence in martial circles basied on the styles developed using Shinai to create what is considered classic Kambun Shinto http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkage-ry%C5%AB Shinkage-Ryu Shinkage-ryū (新陰流?) meaning "new shadow school", is a traditional school (koryū) of Japanese martial arts, founded by Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami Nobutsuna (上泉 伊勢守 信綱, 1508–1578) in the mid-sixteenth century. Shinkage-ryū is primarily a school of swordsmanship (kenjutsu and iaijutsu), and is a synthesis of Nobutsuna's studies in the schools of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, Nen-ryū, and Kage-ryū (Aizu) Until Kamiizumi, swordsmen practiced their art with either a very hard wooden sword (bokken) or one with a dulled steel blade. Because of this, swordsmen had to stop their blows during training if they did not want to hurt themselves or their students or partners. Kamiizumi created a practice sword made of a length of bamboo, split two to 16 times on one end, and covered in a lacquered leather sleeve. He called this invention a hikihada shinai. He did not have children and left all his property to his student Yagyū Munetoshi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yagy%C5%AB_Munetoshi Yagyū Sekishūsai Taira-no-Munetoshi (柳生石舟斎平宗厳 1529 - May 25, 1606) was a samurai in Japan’s Sengoku period famous for mastering the Shinkage-ryū school of combat, and introducing it to the Tokugawa clan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itt%C5%8D-ry%C5%AB Ono-ha Ittō-ryū Ono-ha was founded by Ittosai's immediate successor, Ono Jiroemon Tadaaki (1565–1628), from whence the name of the art is derived. Oral tradition indicates that Ittosai made Tadaaki fight a serious duel with another student, Zenki, in order to establish a successor to the style. Serving as an instructor to both the second and third shoguns, along with Yagyū Munenori of the rival school the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, Tadaaki was able to continue to give his art wide exposure. It was said that Tadaaki was Munenori's superior in swordsmanship, but that his severe character led him to be the less favoured and respected of the two. Known as a dueling style which focused upon the sword rather than a more multifaceted, multi-weapon, battlefield style, Ono developed a mock sword (see: shinai) in order to reduce training injuries and allow more committed fighting practice. There's an earlier pioneer, and two schools that were official teachers for the Tokugawa using Shinai in their teachings, and all the wealth-influence-power-pretige that being sponsored by the Tokugawa brings. Considering all of the above and the way the Shogunate influenced Edo period tastes country-wide overall provides a very reasonable timeline that fits well with the established idea of the origin of Kambun Shinto sugata inflenced by Shinai and sword schools of the time. Regards, Lance
  16. Hello Jacques, Sorry, I should have written " Kenjutsu" Quick reference from Wikipedia "The earliest use of a bamboo weapon to train with instead of a sword is credited to Kamiizumi Nobutsuna (1508-1572?) of the Shinkage-ryū." My point and what's usually mentioned is that Kambun Shinto shape was based on the bamboo shinai used in fencing schools, and became popular for a time as a fad of having a sword more similar in shape to what was used in practice. Regards, Lance
  17. Below is a link from another topic discussing the origins of straight swords used in Kendo, and the following post from Clive Sinclaire mentions what I thought was accepted thought on Kendo's influence on the shape of Kambun Shinto? http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... 1&p=102674 RubenAs I just returned from kendo about one hour ago, I thought I should attempt to answer your question, as I understand it. "Modern" Kendo as we know it was started in 16th century Japan when the straight bamboo shinai largely replaced the swords of the estabished kenjutsu schools. This was so that technique and training could be done without causing severe injyury. At the same time kendo armour (doh, men and kote) were developed with the same objectives. It is said that the almost straight sword, tapering to a smallish point, was directly influenced by the popularity of the shinai. As this was mainly taking place in the Kanbun period (1662-1672) the "striaght" sword shape is known as the Kanbun sugata and is an easy jidai kantie point. Regards Clive Sinclaire This appears in most books on Nihonto, granted the mid 1600's was relatively peaceful compared to just 75-100 years earlier , and other swords of this period were made with a more traditional sori during this period, but isn't it still an example of sori changing due to current demands of use at the time? Regards, Lance
  18. There aren't any oshigata images for the smiths listed, but Fuller & Gregory's Swordsmiths of Japan 1926-1945 has 3 Sadamitsu listed, (see pic below) Nara (I think Gassan school?) Saga (different character, looks like the one usually seen in Sukesada) Settsu ( lists working date, 1926) Below' is a discussion about a sword signed Sadaharu that mentions Settsu, maybe there's a connection? http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... 50&t=16475 From SwordGuyJoe:Tough smith to find! All I was able to find is a modern day smith in Marcus' e-Index. It says he is from Osaka, lists a few mei different than your friends: "Settsu Moriguchi-ju Kawai Minamoto Sadaharu" and "Settsu-ju Sadaharu Saku". His given name is Kawai Kenji. Not sure if he is your guy or not. included an inmage of the Sadaharu mei from the other post, maybe this will be of some use once you see the sword again. Regards, Lance
  19. Lance

    Real or fake

    Most dealers get their stuff by spending alot of time traveling to sword/arms fairs militaria shows, auctions, maybe a web site, with potential sellers or buyers being directed to them based on their knowledge and reputation. Most of those things, especially knowledge take years. As long as you find an honest and reliable dealer, wether locally or online it's probably worth the higher price, especially whens tarting out. Plus after developing a friendly relationship with a dealer, many will usually give you a better price, hold onto something they think you have an interest in, or a fair deal in selling or trading something you have when it comes time to move it on for something else. The other option is to become a dealer yourself, and do all of the above till people start to bring you their items, but that's not always the greatest: I used to help my father at local antique and gun/military shows, and while it can be enjoyable, on slow days it could be like watching paint dry. (I wish there was a smilie for falling asleep) Regards, Lance
  20. I hope Jacques doesn't mind me taking his picture and doing a virtual o-suriage and imaginary nakago for comparison in the images below, to illustrate how the loss of koshi-zori by greatly shortening produces what seems in general tori-zori, even with the varying amount of sori in the different blades. I tried matching the natural curvature with the added nagago, and I know it's not perfect, but I didn't alter anything in the shape of the blades themselves, just rotated a few to make it easier to match up a straight line for each one. (even if it's only done in pictures it still looks like sacrilege! ) Regards, Lance
  21. My impression from various publications: Early tachi with koshi-zori were mostly used from horseback one-handed like cavalry sabers, the small(er) point and straight(ish) monouchi was a good balance for precision thrusting and slashing while in the saddle. Uchi-gatana with Sakizori; the curve higher up allowed more slashing force to be applied in the main impact area, especially useful since when on foot you don't have as much momentum behind a blade as when charging or rushing someone on a horse, and less likely to get hung up in close quarters. Tori-zori was an evolution of the other 2 in part due to shortening, kosh-izori the main curvature was lost when shortening, but there would still be a slight overall curvature remainig. When a Saki-zori blade was shortened the length below the greatest curvature would end up closer to center overall. Early Shinto supposedly adopted the shapes of these shortened swords and over time with no country-wide wars this shape became a standard of sorts. Some other books like Nakahara's mention early tachi may have had a tori-zori shape and examples seen now are the results of repairing battle damage through polishing and reshaping. As an aside I don't think Wabi-Sabi would be the correct term but is there a similar idea of something of great age gaining perfection or beauty through use? Regards, Lance
  22. Lance

    Mythical creature?

    Below is a nice example from the Boston Museum : http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/k ... utaku-9851 Regards, Lance
  23. Yes, it's probably one of the better horimono I've come across on Seki work (emphasis on Seki, not the higher level Gassan or Okimasa which is a much higher level, but from my experience this is very well done) and was part of the reason I purchased it. That and I like good Seki Gendaito (when I come across them) One of the things that was most striking to me when I first saw it was that the parts of the head and legs' frosted look was produced by a series of super fine punches. Overall the blade is actually pretty "fresh": the flash highlights the scratches more than it does in hand, and looks to have been given a much better than usual polish with very crisp shinogi and slightly faceted/beveled shape to the kissaki instead of it just having a "cosmetic" polish to the point, seen on many Showa period swords. (No big deal, but from your question I'm assuming you're suggesting the horimono aren't original?) Regards, Lance
  24. Below are some images of (I believe a Juyo) set of Muromachi period Koshirae that Fred Weissberg was kind enough to send me a while back. The lacquered leather and decorated tsuba pobably indicate it was carried by someone of a higher rank than a regular Ashigaru, but it does have similar spiral wrap and tuba with raised mimi. Regards, Lance
  25. The "fuzzy" hamon and the dark spots inside the peaks of the hamon (see image highlighted with arrow below) do seem to point to oil temper, so along with the Seki stamp most likely not traditionally made. Regards, Lance
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